On the outskirts of the Uchiha territory, within the depths of the forest.
Kuroya's Shadow Clone dissipated into thin air.
He had previously used the clone to place the Yachiyamato brand on Mikoto from a distance before stationing it here to stand by. In the critical moment of Kuroya's confrontation, the clone had woven the signs—Rabbit, Dog, Ram—to activate Izanagi.
With its final task complete, the Shadow Clone vanished, sending the feedback to Kuroya's original body. Utilizing his remaining Yin Release chakra, the "Izanagi" was successfully manifested. The principle was similar to Naruto's clones helping to form a Rasengan or gathering natural energy for Sage Mode.
Sensing the shift in reality, Danzō's brow furrowed. He exhaled sharply, his face turning ashen and cold. He raised his right hand to cover his empty right socket, his murky left eye glaring at Kuroya as he gasped for air, drenched in sweat.
Having lost the Kotoamatsukami again, the last of the Yin Release chakra in Danzō's mind was instantly drained. Combined with the strain of using his ocular jutsu, his spirit began to shatter.
Kuroya was in no better shape. He was mentally exhausted, and a searing, burning pain radiated from both his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to find a place to collapse and sleep for days.
At this moment, Kuroya didn't even have the strength to deliver a finishing blow to Danzō. He couldn't even lift his blade; he stood his ground purely through sheer force of will.
This was the nature of a duel between Sharingan users. It could be as flashily destructive as a collision of high-output ninjutsu that burned everything to cinders, or it could be a low-profile war of attrition, like grandmasters at a chessboard where every move held infinite killing intent.
Unfortunately for Danzō, he was a terrible player. In Kuroya's view, he should never have tried to play a game of eyes with an Uchiha.
The Root members watching from the shadows felt their hearts sink. Lord Danzō... appeared to have lost. Conversely, the Uchiha felt as if they were seeing the first light of dawn.
Neither side knew if there would be another reversal. Only Danzō and Kuroya knew: it was over.
The commotion of their battle had been significant. The first wave of ANBU reinforcements would arrive in less than a minute. Kuroya couldn't kill Danzō himself right now, but behind him stood nine Uchiha.
He looked back at the squad supporting the mangled Tamao. His calm gaze sent a silent signal.
"Go... help Big Brother..." The weakened Tamao pushed Izumi away.
Izumi snapped out of her daze. She handed Tamao over to a subordinate and flickered toward Kuroya. Having learned the truth behind the massacre, her perception of Kuroya had fundamentally shifted.
Uchiha Nanfu and the other six also moved. Red light flared in their eyes as their three-tomoe Sharingan manifested. Driven by absolute fury, they gripped their blades and lunged at Danzō like predatory leopards.
Kuroya didn't use Yachiyamato to control them. He wanted to see the caliber of these people. Even if they hadn't moved, he would have forced them to strike. But if he had to do that, those who refused to act wouldn't be worth keeping alive once Danzō was dead.
To his relief, they were capable. He had hand-picked these individuals from the younger generation—not because they were the most gifted, but because they possessed the most upright characters. Kuroya didn't claim to be a good man, but he hoped to live in a world filled with them.
After the trauma of this night, they would likely all evolve their Sharingan to the full three-tomoe stage. As for the Mangekyō, that was a much steeper climb.
"Damn it..."
Danzō watched the Uchiha close in. He tried to retreat, but his withered energy wouldn't allow his body to respond.
Kuroya pulled the cylindrical container filled with Sharingan from his vest. Holding it in his palm, he offered a cold, patient explanation.
"Danzō, your assumptions were entirely wrong. Before I arrived, only my right eye was a Mangekyō. My left was a standard three-tomoe from the start. And I still have ninety-nine more in here."
Murdering the heart after killing the body.
Danzō's eye bulged as he stared at the container. His elderly face twisted in agony. If he had only made it through tonight, those eyes... they would have been his.
But Danzō didn't have time for regrets. He had to figure out how to survive.
In the dark forest, the sound of rustling footsteps grew louder. A large number of shinobi were converging. Danzō glanced toward the edge of the woods, a flicker of relief in his heart. Hiruzen's ANBU and other Konoha shinobi were almost here. He only had to hold out for ten more seconds!
The thought had barely finished when Nanfu and another Uchiha reached him. They swung their blades in a cross-pattern, slashing deep into Danzō's chest.
Schlick—
The cross-slash tore open Danzō's chest. Blood sprayed across the faces of Nanfu and the vengeful Uchiha, making them look even more demonic.
"Die!!"
Two more Uchiha replaced Nanfu, flickering behind Danzō and slashing upward. Cold steel flashed. Both of Danzō's arms were severed cleanly at the shoulders.
The remaining two Uchiha slid along the ground past him, their coordinated strikes severing both of Danzō's legs.
"Gah—!"
Agony exploded from his severed limbs, and Danzō spat a mouthful of blood. But Nanfu and his partner were already back in position. Before Danzō could even fall, their two blades were already arcing toward his throat.
Danzō looked at the approaching steel and smiled weakly. He was going to live.
Crack-crunch!
The sound of grinding wood erupted. Danzō's body seemed to break a seal. From the stump of his right arm, a massive tree suddenly burst forth, growing at a violent speed until it encased his entire torso, leaving only his face exposed.
The change was instantaneous. Nanfu and his comrade were shocked as their blades bit into the bark, unable to penetrate further. They were knocked back by the surging growth of the massive tree.
Kuroya stowed the container and patted Izumi's shoulder. He pulled his hand back, indicating he had regained some strength and could walk on his own. "Let's go. There's no chance to kill him now."
Izumi nodded, once again emerging from a daze.
With those words, the six blood-frenzied Uchiha were brought back under the control of Yachiyamato, retreating to Kuroya's side. Tamao, still being supported by two others, looked at Danzō and gasped.
"Danzō's mother... is a giant tree?!"
The other Uchiha's lips twitched. Tamao's absurdity effectively broke the tension.
With the footsteps in the forest drawing closer, this was their best window to leave Konoha. Suddenly, Nanfu noticed a movement beside him. He turned in shock.
"Captain Kuroya? What are you doing?"
Kuroya, face devoid of emotion, had drawn his blade and was walking toward the tree-encased Danzō.
The other Uchiha were stunned. They realized Kuroya had only pulled them back because he had recovered enough strength to kill Danzō with his own hands.
"Captain, run!" "Lord Kuroya!" "Leave us here and go! If you don't leave now, it'll be too late!" they pleaded.
Kuroya acted as if he didn't hear them. He raised his blade, aimed it at the spot where Danzō's heart should be, and drove it in. He pushed with everything he had, inch by inch.
Deep within the hollow of the tree, as the blade sank deeper, Danzō's face contorted. He coughed up a spray of blood.
Kuroya whispered coldly, "Who do you think you're fooling?"
Danzō stared at him, eyes filled with rage, but as the blade sank in until only the hilt was visible, his life force rapidly faded. Finally, the old man's eye closed, and his head slumped forward, as lifeless as the wood surrounding him.
The Uchiha stood in awe. Izumi recalled Kuroya's words from moments ago.
Didn't he say... there was no chance?
Her wide eyes stared at the back of the man who stood as firm as a mountain.
"Hehehe..."
Tamao grinned, revealing two rows of blood-stained teeth in a foolish, triumphant smile.